First Lady Lee Hee-ho has been chosen by Pearl Buck International for its Woman of the Year prize.

The U.S.-based international women and children organization said Monday that Mrs. Kim Dae-jung of South Korea had been selected as the 2000 recipient of the award in recognition of her leading role in the development of democracy in South Korea and particularly in the promotion of the human rights of children and women as partner of President Kim.

It has been giving the award to a woman selected from among woman leaders around the world since 1978 to promote the late novelist's humanistic spirit.

Previous recipients of the prize include Hillary Rodham Clinton of the United State and Aung San Kyi of Myanmar.